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Mayfest: La Merda

Thursday 22 May 2014 to Friday 23 May 2014, 18:00 to 19:00

Silvia Gallerano in LA MERDA, by Cristian Ceresoli

Winner of six major awards, including the coveted Scotsman Fringe First Award and the Stage Award for Best Actress (Silvia Gallerano) La Merda caused a big sensation at its 2012 Edinburgh Fringe World Premiere, returning in 2013 for a sell-out Fringe run and successful European tour.

In Cristian Ceresoli’s critically acclaimed angry play, a ‘young’, ‘ugly’ and literally naked Silvia Gallerano captivatingly reveals her revolting secrets, as she struggles with obstinacy, resistance and courage for her own celebrity breakthrough in the society of Thighs and Liberty.

La Merda is driven by a desperate attempt to pull ourselves out of the mud, the latest products of the cultural genocide aptly described by Pier Paolo Pasolini since the modern consumer society began taking form. A totalitarianism, according to Pasolini, even more repressive than the one of the Fascist era, because it’s capable of crushing us softly.

A production by Christian Ceresoli and Marta Ceresoli with Richard Jordan Productions Ltd and Produzioni Fuorivia in association with Summerhall (Edinburgh UK) and the support of The Basement (Brighton UK). La Merda supports Teatro Valle Bene Comune Foundation.

“Devastating stream of consciousness. One of the most wonderfully full-on performances ever seen at the Edinburgh Festival” (**** The Scotsman)

“A piece so literally and metaphorically naked, raw and angry that you leave the theatre feeling as if you’ve had all your skin scraped off” (Lyn Gardner, The Guardian)

On Thursday 22 May there will be a post-show Q&A following the performance, chaired by Dr Angela Piccini (University of Bristol)